Kingdom

October 17, 2016

This year has been crazy, but at the same time, it has been so good...

The day before the new year, we learned that Lori and I were pregnant with our 3rd child! Shocked, yet in some way accepting its ridiculous inevitability, we realized how insane our life would be this year. I realized that due to our rising health insurance costs, the horrific cost of my daily seizure pills, and my lack of relevance to the business world after writing two books, I needed to make a change. With our third baby on the way, I choose to take a job (for the first time in eleven years!) at AUXILIARY Advertising & Design. I worked there for five months before it became clear I wasn't a great fit for their awesome team they have put together. I was let go the week before our third daughter, Henrietta Jane Wenzel was born on August 30th, 2016.

Since then, our life has been a wonderful, psychotic, wacky blur. The promise of a bi-weekly paycheck was lost, and RobinHood Ink. was back on the market looking for business with three screaming, laughing, and wild girls at home. The thing I can't help but laugh at though, is that God knew ALL of this would be happening, so during this past year He made it possible for a new website to be created for RobinHood Ink. by Mighty in the Midwest, a local and highly reputable web company. Click on the image for the link:

I look back at the projects RobinHood Ink. has been a part of and am shocked at how blessed I have been. I've worked to create films inside Polish prisons, at the base of the Atlas mountains in Morocco, shaping massive Mona Lisa replications in barren deserts, and worked with elaborate set ups in the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California. I have been hired to write books for wonderful clients like Josh Shipp and Erik Wahl, while also writing additional articles for fish mongers and breweries in Beer City, USA. I have been sought out to co-write multiple TED Talks to help individuals truly share their messages. And now, I am pleased to say that RobinHood Ink. is available for hire again! If you have any questions about whether or not RobinHood Ink. can help you as a writer, a speaker, or even your entire company, please write me an email. I would love to chat with you to see if I can be of help. If nothing else, I would love to say hello!

On top of that, YOU have made my dream come true by helping me fund the writing of my own book, Thank You Kung-Fu! I've had tons of people asking me about when it will be released, so I am setting a date right now! I have no idea who is interested in its release, so I am inviting EVERYONE. If I have touched your life, made you laugh, or made you cry, please join me for the release of my one and only memoir where I will vomit up my entire life. We'll have readings from the book, fantastic live music, great food, drinks from the beach house's famous outdoor Airstream bar, and tons of outdoor games. This restaurant has everything but a pool, but don't worry, Lake Michigan is right down the road! It is my hope that we can fill out this whole restaurant all day with all of you, the wonderful group of people who have helped make this dream come true.

I'm thrilled, I'm nervous, I'm nearly overwhelmed, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord who walks before me, also walks behind me. I am never forgotten. I am (constantly) bent, but never broken. Thanks to ALL of you who have been following my story. Let's continue to live intentionally, work extremely hard, love everyone we come across, focus on living day by day, and finish each of them with a beer in hand. I hope to catch up with you soon in this lovely ragged battlefield we call life.

August 27, 2016

Coming from the Charles Dickens novel, A Tale Of Two Cities, these words represent my life these days; both the worst and (potentially) one of the best times of my life!

Three years ago today I got the call from Lori where she told me she was surprisingly, yet somewhat miraculously pregnant! This was, literally, the worst news I have ever heard. And here we are now, seemingly minutes from giving birth to our third child. It’s been an amazing three years filled with confusion, love, and babies (yes, in that order). We have struggled to survive all of these massive life changes, and, of course, we are currently struggling with a new challenge that recently presented itself. (It's not my brain or our baby, don't worry!) But you know what? All of these difficult challenges don’t really matter. We serve a God who is yet to forget us, while gracing us with love for each other and love for our three absolutely amazing girls.

Goodness gracious, who would have known that three years ago we’d be here?

We know our story is pretty crazy so keep your ears open! Marian and Viola were born on the same day during rainstorms, so considering today’s weather it looks like Lori might pop! Contractions are coming MUCH more frequently... How fitting that would be, right?! The day we knew we would spend the rest of our lives together could also be our *last*child's birthday.

June 07, 2016

Today is my cancerversary and it looks like I’ve outlived my 5-7 year diagnosis! From here on out, it only gets better!

I hate to admit it, but you know what? For the past few years this “5-7 year life expectancy” has been haunting me. At any second I felt I was capable of going into a seizure and never waking up. In fact that nearly happened to me in December of 2014. But after that intense seizure, I visited Mayo and my U.S. News and World Report ranked “Best Neurosurgeon" doctor told me I wouldn’t see Viola born in May of 2015. That struck me deep. I became overly concerned about what seemed like my dismal future.

But after seeing that SHRINKAGE last month, I have to grasp on to the future once again! I can’t continue thinking about my death any more. I want long-term goals again. I want to plan my family’s vacation to Iceland. I want to pay off my debt. I want to teach my girls how to ride bikes and hold their breath under water. I want to walk each of them down the aisle. I want to focus on using my skills to give back to the community. I want to live until I'm 97 years old. It’s time for “LIFE” to start happening to me again!

Nevertheless, as today was approaching, I was still going through the stress of having another baby amidst our growing medical bills, so I decided to make a strong move towards consistency. So I took a new job working at AUXILIARY Advertising & Design. I’ve been with AUX (AUXILIARY Advertising and Design) as a Strategic Leader for just over two months now. RobinHook Ink. isn’t over with, but I’ve become highly selective about which jobs I choose to take under that name. But when I took this new job at AUX, I started sleeping through the nights, my stress levels started lessening, and everyday I wake up looking forward to laughing with my co-workers. Life is starting to feel good again!

Since I’ve nearly outlived my initial diagnosis, my future is still up in the air. Only God knows the number of my days (as He always has), so I have to continue letting go of any type of control I thought I had and press on. And in this new phase of life, I want to continue telling my story. I want to continue speaking and sharing about my ongoing victory over cancer. I recently spoke in Omaha and I think it’s time I continue. If any of you are interested in hearing my story (with new additions including a wife, 3 kids, and outliving my diagnosis!!), I would love to hear from you!

Visit my NEW homepage, davidvwenzel.com and book me to speak to your friends, students, congregations, or conference goers!

You better believe that tonight we will all be flicking off a cake and toasting to a future, not marked by remaining numbers of years, but marked by countless moments of love and peace for as many days as I have left. I love my elongated life and I love each and every one of you! Thank you for sticking with me through these years. And when I die at 97 years old, let's all share a laugh about this whole thing!

November 10, 2015

Recently, I was emailed by a local woman regarding the editing of my book, Thank You Kung Fu. She said my story had been on her mind for nearly a month, so she offered to edit my book for free. So sweet of her. I replied and told her how nice she was and she could gladly edit one the of the public chapters on my blog and send me her edits. Typically, when people volunteer to edit it never works out, but when I saw her edited pages I saw she totally got it! It was fantastic! I called her up to meet with her at The Sparrows where I learned she has a doctorate in Philosophy, teaches ethics at a university, and is working on her own book. She’s brilliant! Can we say God is good one more time?!

July 23, 2015

I am a complete mess right now! Tears and laughter and sniffles and text messages flying all over the place! I have no idea what I'm even feeling! I shot a video of me thanking all of you, but it's laced with so many tears I don't think I can post it and still call myself a man!

First off, thanks to Jason Murray, the final contributor who put me over the top! And thanks to Gorilla, who put together an insane campaign video and helped with such a large contribution, when was that, YESTERDAY?

But even more, thanks to ALL OF YOU! I am honestly stunned this actually happened. I knew the physical cost of the time it would take to write this book, but was warned by so many people that $40,000 was too much. But I had to trust my gut and ask you for what was appropriate for me. If it didn't happen, it didn't happen. But knowing this funded campaign just happened, I am so pleased to know my wife Lori, and our two girls, Marian and Viola, will be properly taken care in the following months. YOU have given that comfort to me.

I get the idea that you helped me create the time to write a book. Sure. But it's so much more than that. This story, Thank You Kung Fu, carries the weight of what I felt when I was ten years old. When I was given a glimpse of what my future may hold. You have taken part, first hand, in what I truly believe is a miracle from God. I know it surely feels that way to me right now.

This story will carry the weight of who my girls will one day remember as their father. It carries the weight of properly capturing the unbelievable and miraculous circumstances that landed Lori and I together. It carries the weight of my journey through this horrible battle with cancer. But at the end of the day, I truly hope there is something in there for you and the inevitable struggles you have or may one day encounter.

Cheers to you my friends. I don't know what else to say other than I love all of you who have chosen to walk this road with me, knowing full well it is a long and narrow road.

June 11, 2015

Here we go. At this very moment I am as raw, naked, and open as I ever have been with you, the public. My only prayer is, should this book be completely funded, it will walk alongside you if you've ever encountered cancer, divorce or unexpected surprises. That you would know, as I have learned, that God is yet to leave you by yourself.

I've come to the edge and I'm choosing to jump. I have absolutely no idea what happens next. I'm either going to fly high or die on impact.

February 22, 2013

Recently, the The Podium asked me to write an article regarding Story and it's impact on my life. I figured I would also place it here on my blog. Last year I wrote a chapter in a book published by Moody, called Inciting Incidents. If you're interested you can purchase that book here. Enjoy!

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I was a “Goonies” kid. If you aren’t familiar, it means that when I was young, my bike represented my entire existence: my independence, freedom and social status. At nine years old, it was urgent my parents’ ears finally heard my complaints that I had outgrown my faithful red mountain bike. I was surprised to hear my dad propose that he wanted to build me a new bike, because, you see, my father is a handyman and I am not. This was determined very early in life when I was continually dragged to the garage as an unwilling apprentice with the single task of searching for random tools as needed. The effects of this torture are long-lasting, and I still suffer bodily twitches each time I enter Home Depot.

At this suggestion, I recalled several previous collaborations: the crafting of a model U.S.S Kitty Hawk, the second-grade log-cabin made from reeds discovered by a local creek, several winning pinewood derby cars and a DC Talk father/son remix we performed one Sunday night at church. (Long story, don’t ask.) Based on these past successful partnerships, I felt positive my dad wasn’t going to let me down. A custom bike built by my flesh and blood, the handyman, would only increase my Goonie status.

But as to be expected from any working father with four kids, his intentions were probably a little too grandiose for the time available.

March 06, 2012

My dear sister sent me a great meditation by Paul Tripp on Psalm 27. Such a great source of hope in the middle of the wilderness...

"Waiting on God isn't about the suspension of meaning and purpose. It's part of the meaning and purpose that God has brought into my life. Waiting on God isn't to be viewed as an obstruction in the way of the plan. Waiting is an essential part of the plan.

For the child of God, waiting isn't simply about what I'll receive at the end of my wait. No, waiting is much more purposeful, efficient, and practical than that. Waiting is fundamentally about what I'll become as I wait. God is using the wait to do in and through me exactly what He's promised. Through the wait He's changing me. By means of the wait He's altering the fabric of my thoughts and desires. Through the wait He's causing me to see and experience new things about Him and His kingdom.

And all of this sharpens me, enabling me to be a more useful tool in His redemptive hands."

March 07, 2011

This is a long post, I know. In fact, let's not even call it a post. This is a short essay.

I suppose I've been negligent in my updates regarding my health for several different reasons. On one hand, I had to learn to protect my time and not become overwhelmed with blog posts as I had been for awhile. Life goes on, bills need to be paid, need to see my 'real-life' friends, and not spend all of my time pulling a Doogie Howser by sharing my feeling online at the end of each and every day. But nevertheless, I want to keep you updated as to what has been going on because so many of you have been, and continue to be, so faithful to pray to our Lord on my behalf. For that, I can't thank you enough. In the meantime, I want you to know that His grace has indeed been more than sufficient for me.

In August of 2010, Amy and I went back to University of Michigan to get another MRI. So much had been happening before and during that time of year. Amy and I (as well as friends, family and most likely strangers) had been so focused on praying for physical healing before this check-up. We knew that God was in the middle of doing something big. Strange events had been happening that I won't go into detail on right now. But we could feel God was by our side, going through this event with us, preparing us for the next MRI. We had been praying intensely with such childlike faith that we simply expected the doctor would come back and tell us that... 'I have no idea what happened, but the tumor is gone!". And we wouldn't even be surprised. We would say... "Well, of course it's gone, our God is a healing God, duh?"

The Dr. came back with the MRI results and told us that everything was looking just about the same. Hmm. While some minor shifting had occurred, it didn't appear to be growing or shrinking or doing anything for that matter. Just hanging out in my head. Amy and I were obviously pleased because things had not worsened, but there was definitely a feeling of (and I feel strange saying it) but... disappointment.

November 11, 2010

Amy and I were flipping through channels the other day and we were caught by Dateline or 20/20 or 60 Minutes or whatever. I usually try to get my news from 'The Daily Show' and my cultural reference from 'The Soup' (time saver + it's funny), but we happened to come across a series of interviews with pastors who had become atheists. But so what... we've heard this a million times. However, this group was different. They were still 'leading' their church. A variety of interviews showed how these pastors became intrigued by and then began to doubt the Bible, doubting the Old Testament, even doubting even the birth and resurrection of Jesus, yet they are still 'shepherding' people. Amy and I were stunned!

The reason they wouldn't step down from their role as pastor? The economy. They are concerned about finding another job.